Friday, December 28, 2012

Part II of: "The Highlight Of My Year"

Thanks to everyone who read Part I of The Highlight Of My Year, in case you missed it, you can read it right here!  For those waiting for Part II, wait no more!

Thursday morning October 4th found approx 15 sleepy bloggers boarding a bus to head off to the Nestle Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) headquarters.

Purina Headquarters
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare


When we entered the headquarters we were greeted by the Board Of Directors:
"The Board Of Directors"
Hey! What's Dakota doing there?
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare

There were also a number of TV screens that had images of all of our blog headers/logos going across the screen! It was beyond cool!

Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare


Then we made our way to the conference room area where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast.

Resident Cat "Rocki"
Lounging on the Purina "Coffee Table"
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare
We then entered the conference room where we listened to presentations from various people at Purina who were brought in by Gordon Wade who is the Director of Marketing for Purina. The various speakers  spoke to us about:

Manufacturing overview did you know that safety and quality are a few of their top concerns? Purina will not  buy from a supplier without inspecting first. Every load of ingredients that comes to the factory is inspected. 98% of what Purina sells is made at the Purina factory.
Nutrition
History of Nestle Purina
Pet Welfare a speaker that warmed my heart was Brenda Bax who is a Director in Purina's Marketing Team and is responsible for Purina's work to build a better community with and for pets. Her responsibilities include Purina's Pets For People initiative, where Purina works to provide support to the pet welfare industry.

Being from Michigan I was proud to learn that The Michigan Humane Society is partnered with Purina. One example of the fine work that Purina is doing and how they have helped Michigan Humane was written about on Dakota's blog: PURINA DOG CHOW GIVES THE GIFT OF HOPE FOR MICHIGAN ANIMALS IN NEED where Purina donated HUNDREDS of pounds of food to help the Michigan Humane Free Pet Food Bank (which helps provide food for needy families who can't afford it for their pets.)



Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare


I was in sheer bliss!
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare


I was blown away by so many things about Purina that it would take me TONS of blog posts to cover everything. One of many things that I adore about Purina are the values that the company adheres to, they call them:

The Five Tails

The "Five Tails" are used to reference Nestle Purina's values as an organization. From Purina:

"the term "tails" has a rich history in the Purina culture. The company's founder, William H. Danforth believed each person has not one, but four lives to live. A man's ingredients for life, he said, are a body, a mind, a personality and character, and all four must grow in balance with each other. These values--Integrity, Passion, Expertise and Performance--were known as the "Four Tails" the fifth "tail", "Innovation" was added in 2009 to demonstrate Nestle Purinas commitment to value, expect and promote curiosity and innovative thinking in their associates." Here are "The Five Tails"

We Stand Tall With Integrity
We Smile Tall With Passion
We Think Tall With Expertise
We Live Tall With Performance
We Create Tall With Innovation

The presentations were wonderful and we learned so much, but the "presenter" who stole the show was "Rocki", as well as their other resident kitty "Ava!"
Me kissing "Rocki"
who looks less than thrilled
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare

"Ava" asleep in the conference room
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare

Then...we were off on a tour of the campus!

Dog Topiary on the Purina Campus
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare
Feeding Fish at the Koi Pond on campus!
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare

Koi Pond on the Purina campus
Photo courtesy of Nestle Purina PetCare
Now do you see why it took me so long to post about this amazing trip? And...I am STILL not done! It appears that I will be adding "Part III" Stay tuned......

Disclosure: Nestle Purina PetCare completely paid for my trip, accommodations, travel, etc. All opinions are my own.

36 comments:

  1. Oops, I shall have to backtrack to part one. Hopefully, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar, can help me with this :)

    Of course, Penny had to make a special note of the photo of the board of directors. I have now successfully cleaned of the lick marks off my computer screen...

    Yes, what a fabulous experience you had and really nice of Purina. Suddenly, I've got Morris the singing cat mewing in my ear and confusing the heck out of Penny! :)

    Nice one and here's to part three.

    In kindness, Gary

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    1. Gary thanks for always making me laugh! lol. You can read Part I by clicking on the word "here" I think in the first paragraph.
      Mentioning "Morris The Cat" in a Purina post? Major no-no!!! LOL!!!

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  2. Wow! We just red part I and II together!

    That hotel room is the BOMB! I want to live in it!
    So fun to see Brian's Dad and Sparkle's Mom!
    Do Rocki and Ava get to visit that koi pond???

    But my favorite thing? The "Go Cards" banner on their building, heh heh. They "went," all right!

    This was really a great post! So glad you got to go after the Blog Paws disappointment! XOXOXOXOXOX

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    1. Spitty figures you would notice the "Go Cards" lol! I almost was gonna say something about that in the post!
      Awww thanks so much, glad you liked it!
      I was ECSTATIC TO FINALLY meet Brian's Dad and Sparkle's Human!!!
      Hmmm...I don't think that Rocki and Ava get to visit the pond but wouldn't that be tasty for them if they did?
      xoxoxo

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  3. Whoa! I'm jealous. You got to meet Brian's super wonderful Dad! Sounds like fun.

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  4. Y'know, the mom has never been a big fan of Purina, but after reading about your experience with them, she is looking at Purina in a different light. Thanks for sharing your story.

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    1. Island Cats, you know what? I have to admit that I was pretty much the same until I visited them. Then I saw them in a totally different light as well. Thank you for taking the time to read these...I know they are LOOOONG!!

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  5. I'm partial to that shrubbery, if ya know what I mean! woo woo!

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  6. Sure sounds like a wonderful experience. Thanks for all the new insight into Purina
    Snorts,
    Benny & Lily

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    1. Benny & Lily it most certainly was!! You are welcome and thanks so much for reading. I thank Purina for giving ME more insight about them as well!

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  7. Mommy is totally jealous and we WANT that coffee table! What a great time...waiting for Part the Third!

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    1. I want that coffee table too!!!!!!!!!! Have to get Part III (and hopefully that will be the last part!) written later today!

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  8. Dear Caren and Cody,
    Wowwie! What a great trip. Me thinks yous had the most wonderful of times!
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  9. An office isn't complete without a cat (or dog)! And that koi pond is absolutely beautiful!

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  10. I think the highlights of this Part II are your very cool and colourful glasses frame which I admire a lot and the green dog that I like it a lot too.

    Oh, we are looking forward to see Dakota's picture on the next Board of Directors.

    Part III ?!! Yeah!!!

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    1. lol Priscilla you are so observant! Actually they are MULTI-COLORED but I DO have a pair that have just green frames! I am a reading glasses freak and have so many pairs!
      Yeah...Part III and that will hopefully be it! Thanks for hanging in there!

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  11. sounds like you really had a lot of fun there,xx Speedy and mum

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  12. Oh my, Dad said that brings back such great memories! Dad has always thought highly of Purina, but he agrees, they are very sincere about their passion!

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    1. Brian I know!! It was making me all wistful! I want to go back so bad!! Their passion is what impressed me the most!

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  13. Oh, sweet Caren that just looks like such a fun and interesting place to visit. All the pictures are terrific. Love your smile it shows what a wonderful time you were having. So happy for you that you got to go. Thanks for sharing your fun time with us in pictures. Hugs and nose kisses

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    1. Hi Maggie! It most certainly was! Awww thank you so much! You are so kind! Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to read it. I promise, just one more if I can ever buckle down and write it! xoxoxo

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  14. Lol love the looks on Rocki's face! So far, the trip sounds pretty awesome!

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    1. yeah, I don't think he was very thrilled with me lol. The trip was incredible!

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  15. I can guarantee that nothing like that would ever happen in the UK!! I can't imagine there is such a place as Purina campus! I am blown away!!

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    1. It was truly amazing. Hoping to write the 3rd and final part after the football game tomorrow. Monday at the latest!

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  16. I can see why this was the highlight of your year.. woo hoo... amazing opportunity and you deserve every second of it my friend!

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  17. We just finished reading Part I & II of your year's highlights!!! WOW...what an amazing trip. LOVED seeing the photos and recognizing so many wonderful blogging friends. It's easy to see how honored and special Purina made all of you feel. : )

    ....now how do I get my paws on one of those coffee tables??? Perhaps with a GLOGIRLY logo on it!?!?!?!

    Happy New Year dear friends.
    Thank you for always being there for us.
    love,
    Katie, Glogirly & Waffles TOO

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    1. Hi Katie, Glogirly and Waffles Too! Thanks for taking the time to read these. One more is coming (I'm not feeling great but hope to get it done today)...OMG I know! Isn't that coffee table just the BEST?! I love it!

      HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!
      We LOVE YOU!!!!
      xoxoxo

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  18. I was about to write something about the fish and their relation to the kitties Rocki and Ava but my humans says I shouldn't. She has no humor my human (no pun intended).
    Anyway, it looks like it was really interesting and the kitties seem well fed. Can we other kitties go there for the holidays?
    Purrs

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    1. lol Texas I think I can read your mind but the kitties don't go outside :)
      I think you should visit Purina Farms which I will mention in Part III!

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